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Building Stakeholder Awareness and Engagement Strategy to Enhance Biosphere Reserve Performance and Sustainability: The Case of Kien Giang, Vietnam

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Abstract

Local application of the biosphere reserve concept in Kien Giang, Vietnam was examined to see how it compared with other biosphere reserves both in Vietnam and internationally and from that to assess the level of adoption and what could be limiting processes. This was undertaken mainly through qualitative document analysis, field surveys, and extensive interviews of stakeholders. While the designation the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve and establishment of the management regulation conformed with the conceptual model and criteria outlined by UNESCO, the practical implementation has been inadequate to achieve the desired outcomes of the biosphere reserve concept. There was limited public awareness and understanding of the biosphere reserve approach because of poorly developed communication channels. Top-down, state-control based on a strong sectoral approach to biosphere reserve planning and management hindered stakeholder and community participation. Weak engagement from the Province as the designated lead agency in biosphere reserve governance limited cross-sectoral collaboration in the delivery of the biosphere reserve mandated functions. External projects were perceived by community stakeholders to have only a temporary impact on biosphere reserve operation because of their small, short-term scale with the project maintaining control over funding and design of individual activities. Without proper investment in public awareness and improvement of Biosphere Reserve governance leadership, the desire for development of strategic public–private partnerships to support implementation remains unfulfilled and the Biosphere Reserve model will, as a consequence, contribute little to the long-term biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development in the region.

Highlights

  • Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve theoretically follows the international guidelines but has weak management practice.

  • Limited understanding of the BR concept hinders operation and management.

  • Top-down, state control constrains stakeholder participation and biosphere reserve governance.

  • Small-scale and short-term interventions by external projects are perceived to contribute little to biosphere long-term operation and sustainability of the biosphere reserves.

  • Improved public awareness and engagement is needed to build community participation in Biosphere Reserve operation and fulfilment of the aims of the designation.

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Notes

  1. Relevant Sustainable Development Goals to implementation of the Lima Action Plan are (1) End poverty in all its forms everywhere, (2) End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, (8) Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all, (12) Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, (13) Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, (14) Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, (15) Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss, and (17) Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

  2. Cat Ba BR was established in 2004 and is located in the North of Vietnam with a practice of maintaining continuity in the chairperson position even when they move to a different role in the Province governance.

  3. Within 4 years from 2010 to 2014, the BRMB experienced four changes of its chair and Management Board members.

  4. Coastal forest ecosystems in Phu Quoc NP, inland wetlands (plain of reeds in Ha Tien and Kien Luong), provincial mainland mangrove forest, lagoon (Dong Ho), and limestone outcrops (Kien Luong).

  5. BRMB has developed a list of 16 potential products to be supported by BR brand certification and labeling, e.g., Phu Quoc pepper, Phu Quoc fish sauce, U Minh honey, and Sac Ran dried fish. However, there was no detailed plan and mechanism to promote local production for these products.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Kien Giang BRMB, Department managers and staff, and local people for their support and participation in the group meetings, interviews, and stakeholder workshop. This work was funded by the Australian Government Endeavour Scholarship Award, GIZ/DFAT—Conservation and Development of the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve Project, and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Chu Van Cuong & Marc Hockings

  2. Tam Dao National Park, Tam Dao, Vietnam

    Chu Van Cuong

  3. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Peter Dart

  4. Equilibrium Research, Bristol, UK

    Nigel Dudley

  5. Industry Fellow, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Nigel Dudley

  6. UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK

    Marc Hockings

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  1. Chu Van Cuong
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Correspondence to Chu Van Cuong.

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Van Cuong, C., Dart, P., Dudley, N. et al. Building Stakeholder Awareness and Engagement Strategy to Enhance Biosphere Reserve Performance and Sustainability: The Case of Kien Giang, Vietnam. Environmental Management 62, 877–891 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-018-1094-6

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